Of words or speech: brilliant, attractive, charming. Formerly also of reasoning, etc.: specious, plausible. Obsolete.

Of oratory, compositions in general: Brilliant, admirable; hence of a writer or orator. Obsolete.

After the elegant style of Corinthian art. Applied by Matthew Arnold to an over-brilliant literary style: see quot. 1865.

figurative. Of wit, style, etc.: Playing lightly and brilliantly over its subjects; gracefully sportive.